With feet hanging over an embankment that falls 150 metres to the Wigwam River, Jesse spends the afternoon back on my mountain bike. Sunny rays peak through faraway pine trees; the mid-April day is delightful.

Fernie has been known as a mountain biking mecca for some time, but what many do not know is the growth of trails being developed or revised to provide opportunities to the younger cohort of riders, or those new to the sport.

It is easy to put your skis in the basement and forget about them until we see the snow again but preparing your skis for summer storage at the end of the season will make all the difference in how well they will perform at the start of next year.

A round of golf at the Fernie Golf & Country Club can be a beautiful and relaxing way to spend part of your day. Having said that, those of us who have dabbled with this sport know that the experience can turn frustrating pretty quickly.

Summer in Fernie is unlike any other season. Every morning you wake up to sunshine and towering mountaintops, the Elk River meandering beautifully through the valley, bike wheels turning on every street; it is a little shangri-la. And to ensure you maximize every delightful second, there are a few things you might want to carry along with you.

Sitting in this valley, it’s hard not to envision yourself at the top of one of the magnificent peaks surrounding us. Fortunately there are trails… a lot of trails leading to various points along the mountain side, and to peaks if you wish.